Loose-leaf binder



Feb.'24, 1925. l

' E. A. SCHWARTING ET AL masa nur immun Filed Feb. 23

INVENTORS l EH56/)warfen Patented Feb. 24, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDMUND A.. SGHWARTING AND AUGUST R. SCHRAIDE, F WAGO, TEXAS.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Application led February 23, 1924. Serial No. 694,704.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, EDMUND A. Sor-IWARTING and AUGUST R. Setmana,citizens of the United States, resi-ding` at Waco, in the county ofMcLennan and State of Texas, have `invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to theaccompanyinlg drawings. f

This invention relates to loosefleaf binders and has for its object theprovision of a novel binder for holding ledger or other sheets in bookformation to facilitate handling and filing thereof.

An important object is the provision of a looseleaf binder which `isequally well adapted to hold a large or, small number of sheets orleavesmeans being provided for effectually holding the base and top orcovers, as they may be called, in firm clamping relationto the sheetswhich constitute thefiller.

Still another object is `the provision of a binder which is particularlywell. adapted for use in connection, with our` posting device formingthe subject-matter of application for patent filed' Feb. 23, 1924,,Serial No. 694,703 though the presentdevice is complete in itselfwithout referenceto any specificl posting device. 2 M i An additionalobject is the provision of abinder of `this `character which will besimple and inexpensive to. manufacture, easy to operate, eflicient anddurable inservice, and

a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other .objects andadvantages in view, the inventionconsists `in the combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinaftermore fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective Vview of a binder embodying our invention,parts being broken away and insection.

Figure 2 is al detail plan view of the operating mechanism. 2

Figure 3 is a .detailsectionon the line 3-3 of Figure 1. s v

Figure 4 is a section showing a modification......

l Referring more particularly to the drawings, the `numeral designatesthebase as` a whole, which includes a relatively stationary section 11anda hinged or movable section 12. The hinge structure is notillustrated as it forms no part of the present in,w vention and for thefurther reason that it is well-known in the art and might be variedwithin considerable limits. This base is intended to support a pluralityof super posed leaves or sheets 13 which, as is welllrnown, are formedwith holes 14. Ait spaced points the stationary section 11 of the basehas plates` 15 embed-ded or otherwise anchored therein, and slidablyengaged through these plates are posts 16 which are provided at theirlower ends with enlarged heads 17 preventing them from being withdrawnupwardly out of association with the base. `The plates 15 arecounter-sunk or recessed for the reception of the heads so that thebottom surface will be flush and will not cause scarring or marring` ofa table, stand or shelf upon which the binder may be laid.Thesepostshave rounded and tapered upper ends 18 and are formed with aplurality of grooves 19 for a purpose to be described. The sheets 18havethe holes 14 therein engaged. upon these posts and in thiswayall thesheets will be held against relative displacement.

The binding means comprisesa top or cover 20 which includes a stationarysection 21 and a movable section 22 hinged upon one edge thereof and inthe same manner that the section 12 is hinged upon the section 11. Themember 21 is. partially or entirely hollow, and fitting therewithin is aframe 23 within which are pivoted, at 24, latches 25. which have theiractive ends engageable within the grooves 19 for holding the leaves 13compressed. Extending through the hollow member 21 are bars 26 and27-terminating in yolres 28 and 29, respectively, which straddle thelatches 25 and which are pivotally connected therewith, as shown at 30.`The inner ends of bars or rods 26 and 27 are threaded and connected by aturn-buckle 31 whereby the rods may be adjusted so that the latches 25may be disengaged simultaneously. Connected with the yoke 29 is a coilspring 32 which operates to hold the latches normally in en gagementwith the grooved posts. i

For shifting the yolres to disengage th latches from the posts weprovide a filler block 32a which extends across the arms of the yoke 29and with which is connected a Vplunger 33 slidable through a partition34 in the member 2.1 and carrying a head or button 35. f i

In the use offthe device the ledger sheets to be bound are engaged uponthe posts and the top member is likewise slipped thereon, the postspassing through the holes provided in the top member 21. As the top ispressed down the latches 25 will slide over the grooves in the postsuntil the sheets have been compressed fully or to the desired extent andthe latches will remain engaged with the grooves and exert a pawl andratchet-like action which will prevent the cover or top from movingupwardly. IVhen, tor any reason, it is desired to remove the top, asJfor instance when inserting more sheets or in removing the same, it ismerely necessary that the operator grasp and pull upon the head orbutton 35 which will result in moving the yokes and rods longtudinallyagainst the action of the spring 32 so that the latches will bewithdrawn from engagement with the posts.

In the. form ot the device above described, the posts are removable fromthe base. In Figure t we have illustrated a modification in which theposts are formed with longitudinal grooves 16a within which engage theends of screws 15a engaged within threaded bores in the plates 15. Inthis instance the posts are not removable from the base unless thescrews l5a be retracted, these screws normally acting to permit theposts to slip through the plates until the ends ot the grooves engagethe screws. This form is especially well adapted for use in connectionwith the posting device forming the subjectmatter of the above referredto co-pending application.

From the foregoing .description and a study ot the drawings it will beapparent that we have thus provided a simply constructed, inexpensiveand very etiicient binder which will beconvenient to use and which willsave time, labor and annoyance in binding ledger 0r other sheets. Owingtothe simplicity ot the construction and the fewness ot the parts, it isevident that there is very little to get, out of order so that thedevice should have a long life and satisfactorily perform all oi itsfunctions.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiment ot ourinvention, it is oi course to be understood that we reserve the rightlto make such changes in .the form, construction and arrangement of-parts as will not depart vfrom the spirit ot the invention or the scopeot the subjoined claims.

I-Iaving thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desireto secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. In a binder, a base, posts rising YJfrom and movably mounted .throughthe base, a top formed with holes for the passage of the posts, a pair`otmembers movable longitudinally within the top. latches pivoted Withinthe top and pivotally connected with said members for cooperation withthe posts tor holding them, means connected with the members normallyurging the latches into operative position, and means for moving saidmembers to release the latches.

2. In a binder, a base, posts rising therefrom formed with grooves, atop having holes for the passage of the posts, a pair of memberslongitudinally movably mounted within the top, latches pivoted withinthe top cooperating with said posts and pivotally connected with saidmembers, sprint/ means urging the members in one direction for throwingthe latches into operative engagement with the posts, means tor movingthe members in the other direction to release the posts, and anadjustable element connecting said member.

3. In a binder, a base, posts rising therefrom Jformed with grooves, atop having holes for the passage oit the posts, a pair ot .memberslongitudinally movably mounted within the top, latches pivoted withinthe top cooperating with said posts and pivotally connected with saidmembers. spring means urging the members in one direction tor throwingthe latches into operative cagagement with the posts, means tor movingthe members in the other direct-ion to release the posts, and anadjustable element conneet-,ing said members consisting of a turnbuclleswivelly connected with one member and threadedlv connected with theother.

4;. A device of the character described comprising a base, posts risingtherefrom `formed with peripheral grooves, a top formed with holes forthe passage of posts, a pair .of adjustably connected rods movablelongitudinally within the top and terminating in yolzes, latches pivotedwithin the .top cooperating with said posts and pivotally connected withthe yolesmi spring urging the rods in one direction 'For normallvholding the latches in engagement, with the posts, and means vtor.moving the rods in the other direction.

5. In a binder, a base, posts rising troni the base, a top having ahollow portion formed with holes for the passage of the posts, a pair otlongitudinally movable members located within said hollow portion,latches carried by said members and normally engaging the posts. and arod connected with one member and terminating in an operating head, said-hollow portion having a recess within which said head is normallydisposed.

6. In a device of the character described. a :base formed ot hingedlyconnected sections` removable posts carried by one section, a `topformed of similarly hingedlv connected sections, .one being vtermed withholes yforthe passageot the posts. the latter section of the .top beingformed hollow. a frame Within the hollow section, latches pivnaamw otedwithin the frame and cooperating with the posts, means tor releasingsaid latches, the posts being slidable through the base, and means Jforpreventing disassociation of the posts from the base.

7. In a binder, a base, a pair oi' posts ris ing therefrom, a top havinga hollow portion formed with holes for the passage of the posts, a pairof rods longitudinally movably mounted within said hollow portion andterminating in yoles, latches pivoted within the hollow portion andpivoted wit-hin the yolies for cooperative engagement with the posts, arod connected with one ot said [irstsnamed rods and slidable through oneend of the hollow portion, an operating button on the second-named rod,and an adjustable element connecting the Erst-named rods wherebylongitudinal movement of the first-named rods may be caused to effectsimultaneous release of the latches.

8. In a device of the character described, a base, a pair of postsextending therethrough and rising therefrom, a top having a hollowportion formed with holes for the passage of the posts, the posts beingperipherally grooved, a pair ot rods longitudinally movably mountedwithin said hollow portion and terminating in forked yoles, latchesconnected with and within said yoles for operative engagement With theposts, a handle member connected with one yoke, and spring means holdingboth yokes normally with the latches engaging the posts.

9. In a device ot the character described, a base, a pair of postsextending therethrough and rising therefrom, a top having a hollowportion formed with holes for the passage of the posts, the posts beingperipherally grooved, a pair of rods longitudinally movably mountedwithin said hollow portion and terminating in forked yokes, latchesconnected with and within said yokes for cooperative engagement with theposts, a handle member connected with one yoke, spring means holdingboth yokes normally with the latches engaging the posts, the adjacentends of the rods being threaded 0ppositely, and a turn-buckle connectingthe threaded ends ot the rods for effecting adjustment thereof to insuresimultaneous action of the latches.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aftix our signatures.

EDMUND A. SCHWARTING. ,AUGUST R. SCHRADE.

